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Felix M looking good on today’s Turffontein card

Racing takes place at Turffontein on the standside track today and Race 1 is a work riders’ event. Often one gets a muddled pace and sometimes quite a bit of running around, but this is down the straight so you should get the correct result. I’m leaning towards Saraaba who has the best form of those who have raced. One might have to respect any money for an unraced horse but if nothing comes, Saraaba could be the right one.


Race 2 is a Graduation Plate and normally your best weighted horse should win in. I’m lucky enough to be on the best weighted runner, Drifting Dusk, but she has shown to have some issues which makes it difficult to trust the form. She is coming off a rest which might be in her favour but she could also be in need of the run.

I assume the same would apply to Lumya so the horse I’m leaning towards is Seattle Lady as she is fit and well.

For the BiPot you could include Seattle Lady with one of the other two.

The first leg of the Place Accumulator is down to a small field of five with the two scratchings but is quite tricky. Lazer Star is the best handicapped runner but she has only beaten fillies. I ride Belong To Me who is rated behind her but arguably could have run against better.

Although there are just five runners three places will count for the PA you can banker either of the two. The danger could be Deliver The Power who has a 4kg claimer aboard.

Race 4 is another difficult event as there are a couple of horses who have shown form but it is not really strong enough to be confident about their chances. They are Teagan’s Boy, Boulogne and In The Moment.

There are also a couple of well-bred first timers and I am riding one of them in Captain Nemo. I have no idea of his ability but he is beautifully bred, and as this race is sponsored by my sponsors – Wildekrans Wine Estate – it could be fitting if I could win it and maybe get another case of wine as a reward.

Another horse to take note of is New Predator who is also unraced but is Australian bred and by New Approach, who has shown to have some quality offspring.

For the PA put in the three raced runners plus one of the unraced runners, if he draws betting support. One horse to consider for the Pick 6 is Red Special. Although well beaten in his only run it was against a quality field.

Race 5 is a Maiden Plate with many horses having had plenty of opportunities to win a race but are still battling. However, if you go on collateral form you could banker Felix M in both the PA and Pick 6 as he has beaten them all before.

His danger could be Top Shot as Gary Alexander is in top form.

I’m riding Dublin Rebel who has placed in his last few starts but that was on the Vaal sand track. His turf runs have been poor so I’m just hoping for some improvement.

Race 6 is another Maiden Plate but once again these runners have had many opportunities. In this case, though, the form works out very closely to one another so I would suggest including everything other than Nicola’s Lane and Bright Smile in the Pick 6. For the PA I would include Midnight Train, Spurwing Summer and the younger Chessy, who has more scope for improvement.

Race 7 is a plate race again and one has to lean towards the better weighted runners. They are Mitraad, Front Rank and Majestic Bay. I would suggest picking two of them for the PA and for the Pick 6 include all three.

I ride Captain Aldo who is held on form and on handicapping and is probably a place prospect. As some of the fancied runners are coming off rests and Front Rank had a poor last run you could include Captain Aldo in the Pick 6.

Race 8 is quite a difficult race but on form I’m leaning towards Var Bay and Arkansas. Unfortunately both have a tendency to pull quite hard so it might be wise to put both, plus another runner, into the PA. I would suggest Antonia’s Charm, Trabreek or Bah, but they each have the difficult task of overcoming a bad draw.

For the Pick 6 put in all of those mentioned and maybe Lavish Gal, who although a filly, has a good draw and might just have the run of the race.

Race 9 is another difficult event and there are a number of runners with chances. As this is a 1400m race and starts on the turn the draw is important. For that reason I’m leaning towards Dangerous Diva as a possible PA banker.

If you feel the race is competitive then consider including my ride, Hit The Big Time. She showed a lot of speed over 1600m and today’s distances could be more in her favour. Others to consider for the Pick 6 are Mystic Express, One Yesterday and Muskogee but unfortunately they all have shocking draws, which will make their tasks very difficult.

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